Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament

Essays 2002-2008

Thomas Nagel

Collects important writings by a central figure in the field

Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament

Essays 2002-2008

Thomas Nagel

Description

This volume collects recent essays and reviews by Thomas Nagel in three subject areas. The first section, including the title essay, is concerned with religious belief and some of the philosophical questions connected with it, such as the relation between religion and evolutionary theory, the question of why there is something rather than nothing, and the significance for human life of our place in the cosmos. It includes a defense of the relevance of religion to science education. The second section concerns the interpretation of liberal political theory, especially in an international context. A substantial essay argues that the principles of distributive justice that apply within individual nation-states do not apply to the world as a whole. The third section discusses the distinctive contributions of four philosophers to our understanding of what it is to be human—the form of human consciousness and the source of human values.

Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament

Essays 2002-2008

Thomas Nagel

Table of Contents

Part I. Religion 1: Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament 2: Dawkins and Atheism 3: Why Is There Anything? 4: Nietzsche's Self-Creation 5: Public Education and Intelligent DesignPart II. Politics 6: The Problem of Global Justice 7: The Limits of International Law 8: Appiah's Rooted Cosmopolitanism 9: Sandel and the Paradox of Liberalism 10: MacKinnon on Sexual DominationPart III. Humanity 11: Williams: The Value of Truth 12: Williams: Humanity and Philosophy 13: Wiggins on Human Solidarity 14: O'Shaughnessy on the Stream of Consciousness 15: Sartre: The Look and the Problem of Other Minds Index

Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament

Essays 2002-2008

Thomas Nagel

Author Information

Thomas Nagel, University Professor, Professor of Philosophy, and Professor of Law, New York University

Thomas Nagel is University Professor, Professor of Philosophy, and Professor of Law at New York University. Among his books are The View from Nowhere, Equality and Partiality, and The Last Word.

Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament

Essays 2002-2008

Thomas Nagel

Reviews and Awards

"These essays are all written in Nagel's clear and familiar style; they combine substantial arguments and insights with the charms of a friendly conversation partner. Highly recommended to those interested in theism versus atheism and the current science-religion debate." - Religous Studies Review